Opinion
Ft Collins, CO –-(Ammoland.com)- Ammunition performance:
In Pensylvania last weekend, during a DTI Urban Rifle Course, we had the opportunity to test the terminal performance of high-performance pistol ammunition on blocks of ten-percent gelatin.
My long-time friend, Mike Shovel, currently the sales manager for Cor-Bon, made all this possible.
Mike has been in the serious ammunition business longer than nearly any of my other friends and has forgotten more about the subject than I’ll ever likely know.
When Mike talks, I listen.
Gelatin, as a ballistic test-medium, or “human tissue ‘simulant’” is undoubtedly not without critics.
Homogeneous (and mostly transparent), “ballistic” gelatin may be useful for comparing various brands of serious ammunition, and it is probably as close to “reality” as we’re likely to get, but its “predictive ability” is far from universally acknowledged.
Thus, we need to be cautious about making sweeping conclusions, derived solely from gelatin data.
Still, I test ammunition in gelatin every chance I get.
FBI testing protocol correctly requires that bullets first penetrate “normal” clothing before entering the gelatin block itself. “Normal clothing” is usually defined as four layers of substantial denim, as one would typically find in denim work pants.
That fabric “barrier” is significant! I’ve witnessed more than one high-performance hollow-point bullet monotonously expand “by-the-book” when penetrating bare gelatin, but perform significantly less well, and with far less consistency, when penetrating fabric barriers first.
Under these conditions, I like bullets that reproducibly penetrate twelve to eighteen inches of gelatin (FBI Standard), but many of my colleagues believe nine to fifteen inches of penetration represents a more delineative standard, particularly for personal defense.
A persuasive argument can be made either way.
Out of my SIG 320 (9mm), with its 3 and 5/8 inch barrel, we tested:
- Super Vel 115gr SCHP (Solid Copper Hollow Point), my current carry-round.
- Cor-Bon 95gr DPX (current production)
- Lehigh Defense 90gr Extreme Defense (FTM bullet)
- Cor-Bon 165gr Pow’rBall (45ACP) from my Kahr PM45, and current back-up pistol, with its 3-inch barrel.
These four turned-in superior performance, expanding consistently/symmetrically (with the exception of Lehigh’s FTM bullet) and penetrating to a uniform fifteen inches. Cavitation in the gelatin between the four was essentially identical.
Tissue destruction is accomplished via bullet expansion and jagged frontal area (after expansion) with conventional hollow-point bullets. Something similar is accomplished via plasma jets created by Lehigh’s FTM bullet (which does not change shape) as it passes through tissue.
In any event, between the four, I was able to see no difference in shape, nor appearance, of wound channels. Velocity variation between rounds, with all four, was small, less than 30f/s, indicating excellent quality control during manufacture. Super Vel’s velocity was the most consistent, but all were very acceptable.
My conclusion is that any of the above four represents as good a performance as we are ever likely to see from serious pistol ammunition, from serious carry-pistols.
- Poor performance was turned-in by Federal Hydra-Shok, 124gr. Expansion was generally incomplete and consistently inconsistent.
- Federal is a fine company, and their quality control is probably the best in the business, but the Hydra-Shok round, while still in production, represents a dated technology and is mostly obsolete, in my opinion.
- Federal’s 124gr HST represents a much better choice!
- Hornady’s 124gr Critical Duty also represents a good choice
The preceding is, of course, my observation and my opinion. When you carry a 9mm pistol, I can comfortably recommend any of the rounds I mentioned favorably.
I should add that ammunition from companies I did not mention, like Underwood, Gorilla, and Black Hills also enjoy good reputations.
Eventually, I’ll test them all!
/John
About John Farnam & Defense Training International, Inc
As a defensive weapons and tactics instructor John Farnam will urge you, based on your own beliefs, to make up your mind in advance as to what you would do when faced with an imminent lethal threat. You should, of course, also decide what preparations you should make in advance if any. Defense Training International wants to make sure that their students fully understand the physical, legal, psychological, and societal consequences of their actions or in-actions.
It is our duty to make you aware of certain unpleasant physical realities intrinsic to the Planet Earth. Mr. Farnam is happy to be your counselor and advisor. Visit: www.defense-training.com
why didn’t you test the new sig 9mm ammo out of your sig pistol ?
Hornady handgun ammo is superior!!! I’m an Autopsy Tech. Their ammo expands just like the promotional pictures. It’s amazing the way the jacket will expand consistently and not fragment. There isn’t any other brand this reliable. I won’t carry anything else.
All good points . last point , I would rather have a Gun in my Hand then a cop on the phone = no matter what ammo , Federal 124 gr HST +P
Practice, Practice, Practice, The Most Expensive Round You Shoot Will Do No Good Unless It Hits It’s Target !
Quality control is.lacking in most of the major manufacturing companies. In the last year I have had a Federal match round that would NOT chamber due to the brass casing being too long. Also had that same problem with a Remington .45 round. These were both rounds of ammunition that had been issued to me as a Federal law enforcement agent. If you want TRUE quality control look at Black Hills Ammo. I took a tour through their inspection area a while back. Each and EVERY round is hand inspected and checked in chamber gauges to insure that they WILL… Read more »
The first rule of a gunfight: HAVE A GUN! Second rule: PRACTICE WITH THAT GUN! Shot placement is everything. I saw it many times while working as a Peace Officer in SoCal for over thirty years. The one sure way to drop your target is use the: “CENTER OF FACE” technique first proposed by Gabriel Suarez. This was brought out after the North Hollywood bank robbery shoot out with the two thugs armed with AK’s who took on quite a few of the LAPD. This was back in the 1990’s. Practice. Practice. Practice.
I’m NOT a fan of Federal ammunition at all. Quality control seems poor. So poor, that they seem to be selling mostly rejects from an assembly line intended for someone other than us common folk. Perhaps their quality control is very very good, and someone is getting the stuff that isn’t rejected by their excellent quality control, and the common folk get all the rejects, eh? But your use of the term “obsolete” is maybe not so correct. After all, criminals are still made the same old way, so the projectile still works the same old way. I’m NOT saying… Read more »
What a bunch of bullshit. Farnam needs to stay in his lane; whatever lane that is. Using the term “plasma jets” just points out how badly he is trying to sell something. Having tested many thousands of bullets I have a good understanding of how terminal ballistics works and how to make happen what you want to make happen. You want to know what screws up expansion comparisons; body fat. Try this experiment: take a jug, or jugs, of water and check a bullet’s expansion. Then repeat the experiment except this time put a quarter cup of oil in the… Read more »
A lot of this newfangled ammo, especially police ammo, is not designed to kill… it is designed to keep people alive by ventilation (ask the Feds).. a lot of police officers are having to fire multiple shots with this so-called controlled expansion ammo.. if you want good ammo for defense use a hunting round or old school Cop load.. look back in time at some of the ammo with real street credibility.. I hear a bunch of talk about how bple 9mm +p+ doesn’t perform well in jello…JELLO IS FOR DESSERT!! Ask an old Illinois State Patrol officer, a DeKalb… Read more »
Sounds like a sales pitch.